Essence of Place
Named for Stuart John Robertson, beloved brother, son, and friend; the soul of Delmas is SJR Vineyard.
All fruit sourced for our wines comes from this singular estate where we grow Rhône varietals en goblet.
Located at the southwestern edge of The Rocks District appellation, our cobbled soils provide finesse and elegance. Sustainably farmed with a focus on cover cropping, minimal water usage, and integrated pest management, SJR Vineyard has garnered a reputation for creating world class wines. Our winegrowing philosophy is minimal intervention, and letting these vines truly express place.
Rhône Wines
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The majority of SJR Vineyard’s 13 acres was planted in 2007 to Syrah, Mourvèdre, Grenache, and Viognier.
We have since added new clonal variations of the above varieties, as well as adding Cinsault, Grenache Blanc, and Bourboulenc, providing greater blending opportunities for Delmas.
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Being sensitive to climactic challenges is key for being a good steward of the land. Premium viticulture is dependent upon the ability to roll with whatever Mother Nature gives us.
Balance is our goal. To accomplish this we have broadened our repertoire of varieties to include some that ripen early (Viognier, Syrah), some that ripen late (Grenache, Cinsault, Mourvèdre), some that provide high acid (Bourboulenc), and some that provide intense fruit forward flavors (Grenache Blanc). The ability to pivot if the given vintage is proving to be the hottest on record, or the coldest winter in decades… SJR Vineyard can weather anything.
Mini Head Trained Vines
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The Walla Walla Valley is a region of extremes. Heat units during the season can match Northern California, while our winters frequently dip below zero.
To alleviate the hardships of bud and vine death due to deep freezes, we have created the MHT (mini-head-trained) vine methodology. Our vines are grown as goblet, head-pruned vines in a 3D structure. This allows for the fruit to hang with integrity and prevents clumping of clusters that would otherwise need to be eliminated.
The vines are grown low to the ground (sub 24 in.). This allows us to bury the vines in their entirety post harvest, ensuring that the trunk, head, and first few buds on each vine are able to be protected by the soil over the winter.
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Vines are grown with a head height of 16-18 in. and are head trained into a 3D structure. There are 4-5 spur positions around the head, pruned to 2-3 buds each. This provides (on average) the ability to crop our vines at 2-3 tons per acre creating a perfect balance between structure and fruit.
The Syrah maintains its trellis system, as this varietal can be quite unruly, and this allows us to tuck the shoots into the canopy to be out of the way of the vine row. All other reds are grown without trellising.
Post harvest, we utilize specialty equipment that allows us to push soil from the middle of our rows up the structure of the vine, ensuring that each is completely covered for overwintering. We are able to do this with a single implement, tractor, and driver alleviating the need for labor intensive hand work.
In the Spring, we wait until we are relatively free from freeze danger to begin the un-burial process; in which we simply switch the implement to break down the soil mounds around the vine. Once the soil has been removed, the vines are ready to be pruned for the next season.
The Rocks District of Milton-Freewater
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The Rocks District is the only AVA in the U.S. whose boundaries (96%) are dictated by a single soil series (Freewater Series) and a single land form (alluvial fan).
TTB approval of this 5.9 square mile (3,767 acre) AVA within Walla Walla Valley was granted in 2015. SJR Vineyard resides at the Southwest corner of this Oregon AVA. The Rocks District is receiving international recognition for its wines, particularly Syrah. There is no denying the distinctive character of these wines. The Rocks District advantages of water availability, excellent drainage and favorable climate provide the basis for global distinction.
Rocks District wine grapes from small, meticulously farmed, vineyard parcels have made their presence felt across the globe over the last couple of decades. Importantly, diversity prevails within The Rocks District, and provides a framework for charting future vineyard development—where hands-on work, close proximity to the land and a discernable independent spirit represent a unique winegrowing culture opportunity.
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The Rocks District and its association of winegrowers, puts community first. This summer (July 2025) we will be throwing the inaugural Bash in which monies raised from a silent Barrel Auction will go to funding Mental Health Support for the Milton-Freewater School District. A much needed investment in our communities children.
To find out more info on how to attend the Basalt Bash & Barrel Auction, please visit the Rocks District Winegrower website:
